What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 英語 (eigo, English), the particle で (de, by means of/using) and 話して (hanashite, please speak).
Which one should you use?
The base form is casual, while adding ください makes it a standard polite request. Even more formal options use different verb structures to ask if the person could speak English for you.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 英語で話して is in the 'te-form', which is used for casual requests among friends or people of lower social status. For a polite and standard way to make this request to strangers or acquaintances, use 英語で話してください. Even more formal ways to express this include 英語で話していただけませんか and 英語でお話しいただけますか.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle で is used to indicate the medium or instrument being used for the action, which in this case is the English language. Adding ください (kudasai) to the end of the phrase makes the request more polite and complete, resulting in 英語で話してください.
How do you pronounce it?
eigo de hanashite
Did you know?
- While 英語 means 'English language', the word for 'England' is イギリス (igirisu), which is derived from the Portuguese word 'Inglez'.
- Japanese learners often use 英語で話してください, but a native speaker might simply say 英語でお願いします (eigo de onegaishimasu), which literally means 'English, please'.
- In Japanese, the word for 'English', 英語, is composed of two characters that literally mean 'English language'. The first character, 英, originally referred to 'brilliant' or 'heroic' before it became the standard way to represent the country of 'England'.
Examples in context
- こんにちは！英語でお話ししてもいいですか？Hello! Can we talk in English?
- すみません、英語で話していただけませんか？Excuse me, could you speak in English?
- 英語で話してくれると助かるんだけどな。It would be a great help if you could talk to me in English.
- 練習中だから、英語で話して。Renshuu chuu dakara, eigo de hanashite.I am practicing, so please talk to me in English.
- もっと英語で話してくれますか？Motto eigo de hanashite kuremasu ka?Can you talk to me in English more?
- 困ったら、英語で話してね。Komattara, eigo de hanashite ne.If you have trouble, please talk to me in English.
Example conversation
Two students are studying together in the library.
- 大翔 Hiroto英語の勉強をしているんだ。Eigo no benkyou o shite iru n da.I am studying English.
- 陽葵 Himariいいよ。英語で話してほしいの？Ii yo. Eigo de hanashite hoshii no?Sure. Do you want me to talk to you in English?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、英語で話して。Un, eigo de hanashite.Yes, talk to me in English.
- 陽葵 Himariわかった。頑張ろうね！Wakatta. Ganbarou ne!Got it. Let's do our best!
